Chaotic World Book

Looking at the iron rod in his hand and then at Zhao Changhe sweating on his forehead in the dead of winter, Instructor Sun knew just how much hard work this young man had put into this one cut. It wasn't talent; for these past twenty-plus days, besides eating, sleeping, and occasionally sneaking out to bathe, this bastard spent all his time practicing.

And then there was the day he had been distracted; he punished himself by repeating the drill three thousand times afterward.

Such an attitude, Instructor Sun thought in his lifetime of leading so many bandit followers, he had never seen anything like it... It felt as if a tiger were chasing after him, running as if his life depended on it.

In just over twenty days, a person's appearance shouldn't have changed much, maybe just a bit more stubble, but Zhao Changhe's face had become even more resolute and calm. A spark of sharpness was hidden in his eyes, sometimes even a fierce and vicious energy could be seen.

His muscles had become more defined and robust, clear and majestic, filled with a masculine aesthetic.

That was the ultimate standard of beauty in the stronghold, and coupled with the scarring on his face that accentuated the wild masculinity, Zhao Changhe simply was recognized as the most handsome man of Beimang Mountain stronghold...

On the contrary, that Luo surname guy in his room wasn't so well regarded, looking like a timid rabbit. If it weren't because he lived with Zhao Changhe, maybe people would have teased him. Now of course they wouldn't dare, but there was still secret gossip that he was Zhao's personal pet, probably played with long ago.

Since almost all the bandits in the stronghold who hadn't respected Zhao Changhe had been beaten senseless, including some old followers who had come to bully others. Anyway, with Instructor Sun backing him up, this guy had already become the little tyrant of Newbie Village, gathering around a bunch of bootlickers.

Because of such things, he not only learned the saber but also some fist techniques, since internal fights couldn't always involve weapons.

Look at the liquor gourd at his waist... Now he didn't need Luo Qi to swap out his drink anymore, as it was daily filled with offerings from his lackeys—unlike him, who was wanted and couldn't leave, the rest often went to the towns to have fun. Those without money would resort to deceiving and robbing, and now probably the only one who hadn't left the mountain was Zhao Changhe.

Viewing his current state, drinking with his head thrown back in excitement from passing the assessment, he already had quite the air of a bold hero.

Instructor Sun admired such a man deep down, feeling a great compatibility, "Changhe, that's about enough, you go back tonight, try to break through the First Layer of Blood Evil Skill, see if you can ascend to First Layer Heaven. I've already pointed out the key points to you, I believe you remember."

Zhao Changhe clasped his fists excitedly, "I remember."

"This elixir will help with your breakthrough," said Instructor Sun meaningfully as he handed over an elixir pill, "Go on, I hope from tomorrow, you can start learning the Blood Evil Saber Technique."

...

"Hey, handsome, little tyrant, you're back?"

When he returned to his room, Luo Qi had arrived early today, dusting off a chair in a bootlicking manner and inviting Zhao Changhe to sit down.

Zhao Changhe just boldly sat down, laughing, "What good thing happened to put you in such a mood, share it for a laugh."

"How did you know something good happened? It could very well be something bad."

"You only act the fool when you're feeling good. When you're in a bad mood, you put on a face like I owe you eight million, how could I not know you by now?" Zhao Changhe took off the liquor gourd from his waist and poured a drink for Luo Qi, "Come on, someone else brought this today, it's strong stuff."

"You're saying the drink I bought you isn't strong enough?"

Zhao Changhe gritted his teeth, "Big~Brother~!"

Meaning, stop messing with me with that femme fatale act, I'm begging you for the manly approach.

"Hmph." Luo Qi pretended to be miffy vocally but was teasing with his eyes, gazing at Zhao's liquor gourd with a smile curling on his lips.

He didn't care whose drink was inside the gourd; he was always pleased that the gourd—plain and cheap, gifted to Zhao one day—had never been replaced.

"What good thing? There was none," Luo Qi snorted coldly, "I just heard people gossiping about me as your kept lover, amusing isn't it? Damn this place, they're all men, why do they have to think of such things?"

Zhao Changhe looked down and sipped his drink.

How is that anything? You haven't joined the modern readers' groups; else there would be more.

"And another thing, how the hell do they think you, with your crude ways, qualify as a handsome man?" Luo Qi banged the table indignantly, "Look in the mirror, do you really think you fit the bill?"

Zhao Changhe honestly replied, "Looked in the mirror this morning, woke up looking handsome."

Luo Qi: "?"

You looked in the mirror my ass; you clearly woke up with me in your arms, and when you came to, you shoved me aside.

Bandit!

Zhao Changhe also quickly realized that his actions in the morning might not have been quite appropriate, and he busied himself changing the subject, "It's Winter Festival today, celebrating the occasion, any festivity planned?"

Luo Qi hesitated.

Festival plans you ask me? Am I your wife?

What infuriated her the most was that she did have plans.

Mumbling something under her breath, Luo Qi took out a pot of glutinous rice balls from the cupboard with a stern face, "Bought them in town today, just boiled some water and scooped them up casually. Anyway, it's Luo Family Manor's custom to eat these on Winter Festival, Zhao Mansion should be the same, right?"

Zhao Changhe was curious, "From what you're saying, do you also know the customs of other places? How many places have you been able to visit?"

"Can't I hear about it from others? They eat dumplings, but I couldn't be bothered to make any." Luo Qi angrily served him a bowl, "I see you're not fond of dumplings either, you're probably more interested in your sister-in-law."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

I haven't offended you today, have I? Why are you acting like you've eaten gunpowder... I didn't even think about eating you, let alone a sister-in-law…

Oh, that thing in the morning did offend her… Forget it, just quietly eat the rice balls.

Luo Qi gave him a sideways glance, growing even more irritated.

In fact, there wasn't anything to take offense about, it was just that she was very uncomfortable with the feeling of a family celebrating the festival together. Zhao Changhe, on the other hand, was irritatingly oblivious, acting as if it was all natural, not even a word of thanks.

Am I your damn wife?

Yet as Zhao Changhe ate his rice balls, he started discussing work topics as naturally as any husband would do with his wife over a meal, "I passed the basic saber technique assessment today. Instructor Sun plans to teach me the Blood Evil Saber, but I need to keep up with the power development, otherwise learning Blood Evil Saber won't bring out its power, and it would be useless. Instructor Sun suggests that I can try to break through to the First Layer Heaven tonight."

Too much like a husband and wife.

Luo Qi was even more stifled with vexation, even more so because this idiot was advancing one Layer Heaven every month!

Is there any room left for others to live?

"How come you're learning Blood Evil Saber so quickly?" Luo Qi listened to her own voice with a tinge of sourness, "Shouldn't you still have to transition through a set of starter saber techniques?"

"Instructor said with the effort I put in, I know how to train myself. Starter saber techniques offer very low value for my improvement, those step-by-step routines are for mediocrities..."

Luo Qi's eyebrows bristled.

Zhao Changhe raised his hands in surrender.

"Break through if you want to, why tell me? I can't help you." Luo Qi chewed on her rice ball, speaking rigidly, "Anyway, practice your technique while it's warm after you finish eating, it'll benefit you. I'm going to take advantage of the warmth and have a bath."

Zhao Changhe finally stopped eating his rice balls, looking up at her, then hesitated.

Luo Qi said sternly, "What now? Out with it."

Zhao Changhe hesitated, "I've been thinking, you shouldn't go bathing alone anymore, in case someone stumbles upon you..."

Luo Qi shot back irritably, "Who goes to the pond in the dead of night? It seems more like you're looking for an opportunity…"

"Do I need such an opportunity?" Zhao Changhe cut in, "Just because no one stumbled upon me before doesn't mean it will always be that way. From now on, I'll keep watch for you, since I can practice my magic anywhere."

Luo Qi poked at a rice ball with her chopsticks, slipping off without skewering it.

She continued to poke angrily, "As a man, what does it matter if someone sees me? Besides, what's it to you?"

This damn tsundere. Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and changed his approach, "Think of it as helping me out."

Luo Qi gave him a strange look, "Help satisfy your curiosity of watching a man bathe?"

"Damn." Zhao Changhe said helplessly, "Blood Evil Skill is, after all, a Demon Skill, there's a risk in breaking through, even just one Layer... so at the edge of Cold Pond, if you see me losing my sanity, just kick me in and be done with it..."

Finally skewering a rice ball, Luo Qi stuffed it cheerfully into her mouth, grinned and said, "If you're asking for my help, then I'll reluctantly lend you a hand."